Mining machine



July 10, 1951 E. l. DANSEREAU MINING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 5, 1945 July 10, 1951 E. l. DANSEREAU MINING MACHINE 2 She et's-Sheet 2 Filed May 5, 1945 Patented July 10, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT I OFFICE 2,559,711 MINING MACHINE Edward Isaie Dansereau, Bluefield, W. Van, assignor to Joy Manufacturing Company; a corporation of Pennsylvania Application May 5, 1945, Serial No. 592,16"i

7 Claims. 1

This invention relates to mining apparatus and more particularly to an improved coal cutting machine having improved driving mechanism for the kerf cutter thereof.

An object-of the present invention is to provide an improved mining apparatus. Another object is to provide an improved coal. cutting machine having improved keri cutting mechanism. Still another object is to provide an improved driving mechanism for the .kerf cutter of such a machine. A further object is to provide an improved universal coal cutting machine having adjustable supporting means for the kerf cutter and improved mechanism for driving the kerf cutter in any of its adjusted positions. .A still further object is to provide an improved universal coal cutting machine having its keri cutter mounted for universal adjustment and improved driving mechanism for the kerf cutter. .Still another object is to provide-an improved. universal coal cutting machine having its -kerf cutter mounted on an elongated boomswingable in horizontal and vertical directions relative to the base of the machine, together with improved cutter driving mechanism associated with the pivotal mounting for the boom whereby the kerf cutter Fig. 1, illustrating the forward portion of the cutter mounting.

Fig. 4 is anenlarged view in longitudinal vertical section taken substantially on line 4-4 of Fig. 1, showing the rearward portion of thecutter mounting.

Fig. 5 isan enlarged cross-sectional view taken substantially on line5-5of Fig. 1.

In this illustrativeembodiment of the invention, there is shown a mining apparatus of the character known as a universal track cutter having adjustable kerf cutting mechanism whereby kerfs maybe cut in the. coal at any desired location in the coal face or in the ribs. It will be evident, .however, that the invention may equally as well be embodied in other-sorts of mining apparatus.

Thecoal cutting machine disclosed herein may be of thesame generalcharacteras that disclosed in the copendingapplications to C. P.

Baldwinand H. Vanderzee, Ser. No. 578,139,.

filed February 16, 1945,-and. now abandoned, and

Ser. No. 578,084,- filed February 15, 1945, although, in this instance, the machineis shown to be of 2 the track mounted and guided type instead of may be driven in all of its adjusted positions.

A further object is to provide an improved pivoted boom mounting forthe kerf cutter and improved cutter driving mechanism including universal driving connections associated with the pivoted boom mounting. Still another object is to provide a universal driving connection associated with the pivotal boom mounting for the kerf cutter and embodying cooperating universal joints arranged in close'adjacency at opposite sides of the pivotal axes of the pivotal boom mounting for the kerf cutter. These and other objects and advantages of the invention will,

however, hereinafter more fully appear.

, In the accompanying drawings there is shown for purposes of illustration one form which the invention may assume in practice.

.In these drawings:

Fig. l is a plan view of a mining apparatus in which an illustrative form of the invention is embodied.

.Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the mining machine shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view in longitudinal ver- "tlcal'section taken substantially on line 3-3 of the rubber-tired, trackless type shown. inthese applications. The character of themountingof the machine does not enter into the presentinvention, and it is intended that the machine be mounted in any appropriate manner.

As shown-in the drawingsthe coal cutting machine includesa portable base I in the form of a truck frame 2 mounted on wheels? adapted to travel along a trackway-4 laid on the floor of the mine. Carried by the base frame-near its forwardend substantially midway between the wheel axles-is a horizontal turntable 5 having a depending'cylindrical portion 6 journaled in bearings suitably supported in the truck frame, and the turntable issuitably retained in position on its bearings. Pivotally mounted at I Ona transverse axis on upstanding brackets 8 on the turntable'is an elongated boom or arm 9-on which a cutter head I0 is rotatably mounted to be turned about the longitudinal axis of the boom. The boom extends forwardly in advance of the base and has a' forward non-'rotatable'portion I [supporting bearings on which a neck por tion is a tiltable cutter support I4 on which a kerf cutter I5 is swivelled on a right angle axis as at 16. The cutter support has a cylindrical portion l1 supporting bearings on which a hanger frame I8 is journaled. The kerf cutter includes a cutter bar l9 secured to the hanger frame and having guided for circulation about its margin an endless cutter chain 20.

In this illustrative embodiment a motor 2!, herein preferably an electric motor, is mounted on the truck frame rearwardly of the turntable and is arranged with its power shaft 22 horizontal and extending lengthwise of the truck frame at the longitudinal vertical center thereof. Attached to the front end of the motor casing is a transmission housing 23 which overlies the rear ward portion of the turntable in the manner shown in Fig. 4. Attached to the rear end of the motor casing and driven from the motor power shaft is a conventional pump 24 for supplying liquid under pressure to the various hydraulically operated devices of the machine as will later be explained. Connectible by a conventional sliding clutch 25 (Fig. 4) to the front end of the motor power shaft is a transmission shaft 26 suitably journaled in the housing 23. This clutch has usual shipper mechanism including an operating handle 21 arranged exteriorly of the housing. Secured to the shaft 25 is a spur gear 29 meshing with a spur gear 30 secured to a parallel shaft 3| likewise journaled in the housing. The shaft 3| extends with its axis radially disposed with respect to the turntable axis and is coupled in an improved manner through a universal connection 32 herein arranged at the pivotal axes of the turntable and boom, to shafting 33. This shafting extends longitudinally of the boom along the boom axis and is suitably journaled in the boom, and the axis of rotation of the shafting lies in a vertical plane which ex- 5 tends radially with respect to and contains the turntable axis. The universal connection 32 is herein arranged in a novel manner and includes a pair of cooperating universal joints 34 and 35 arranged in close adjacency at the opposite sides of a vertical plane containing the turntable and boom pivot axes in such manner that irrespective of the horizontally and vertically swung position of the boom the drive between the shaft 3| and the shafting 33 is maintained in an improved manner. One element 36 of the universal joint 34 is secured to the shaft 3| and an element 3'! of the universal joint 35 is secured to the shafting 33. An intermediate connection forming a part of the universal connection is shown at 38.

As clearly shown in Fig. 3, the shafting 33 at its outer end drives through a similar universal connection 33 in the manner fully disclosed in application Ser. No. 578,139 above referred to and arranged in a similar manner with respect to the pivot 13 of the cutter support 14, a shaft 40 suitably .iournaled in a cutter support. Driven by the pivot 49 is a bevel pinion 4| meshing with a large bevel gear 42 secured to a shaft 43 coaxial with the pivotal mounting for the kerf cutter. Keyed to and driven by this shaft is a usual chain sprocket 44 which engages and drives the endless cutter chain Zll of the kerf cutter. The universal connection 39, like the universal connection 32, includes a pair of cooperating universal joints arranged in close adjacency at the opposite sides of the cutter support pivot axis l3. In this instance, however, the universal joints are located in adjacency to but a single pivot. Thus, when the sliding clutch 25 is connected, the cutter chain may be driven by the motor 2 through shaft 25, intermeshing gears 29 and 30, shaft 3i, universal connection 32, shafting 33, universal connection 39, shaft 40, bevel gearing M, 42 and the chain sprocket 44 secured to the shaft 43, and due to the novel arrangement of these transmission elements cutter drive is maintained irrespective of the adjusted position of the kerf cutter. When the sliding clutch 25 is disconnected, the cutter chain may remain idle during running of the motor 2 I.

Mounted on the boom at one side thereof is a conventional reversible hydraulic motor 25 operatively connected to a drive chain 46 which engages a chain sprocket 41 secured to the rotatable neck 12 of the cutter head. The motor effects rotation of the cutter head relative to the boom. Arranged at the oposite sides of the boom 3 are hydraulic jacks 48 which are pivotally connected to the forward edge of the turntable 5, and these jacks are employed to raise and lower the boom with respect to the turntable and to hold the same in adjusted position. A hydraulic jack 49 extending between the rotatable cutter head In and the tiltable cutter support I4 is employed to tilt the cutter support about its pivot relative to the cuter head. A pair of hydraulic jacks 5!), 50 is arranged between the cutter support is and bar hanger l8 for swinging the kerf cutter about its pivot l6 relative to the cutter support. A pair of hydraulic jacks 5|, Si is arranged between the turntable 5 and the truck frame for turning the turntable about its pivot. A conventional reversible hydraulic motor 52 is operatively connected through a selective trans mission to the truck wheels for propelling the machine along the mine trackway both during cutting and transport. A usual hydraulic motor 53 drives a cable reel 54 for the power conductor element of the motor 2| in a well known manner. The pump 24 may supply, under the control of a conventional valve box 55, the flow of liquid with respect to the various hydraulic motors and lacks mentioned above, and suitable conduits extend from the valve box to the various devices. Since the hydraulic system is generally similar to that disclosed in application Ser. No. 578,084 men tioned above, further description thereof is herein unnecessary.

By the provision of the novel universal drive connection associated with the pivotal axes of the turntable and boom it is possible to mount the cutter driving motor in a stationary position on the base of the machine, resulting in a sim plified driving mechanism for the kerf cutter and reducing the weight of the swingable boom structure which has heretofore carried the cutter driving motor. The particular arrangement of the universal joint connection at the pivots of the turntable and boom enables the boom to be swung hoirzontally and vertically with respect to the machine base while the drive connection between the motor and kerf cutter is maintained. The mechanism is not only simplified, but also the structure is flexible and rugged and inexpensive in design. Other uses and advantages of the invention will be clearly apparent to those skilled in the art.

While there is in this application specifically described one form which the invention may as;- surne in practice, it will be understood that this form of the same is shown for the purposes of illustration, and that the invention may be modified and embodied in various other forms withcut departing from its spirit or the scope of the appended claims.

1. A mining machine comprising, in combination, a portable base, a kerf cutter, a supporting boom structure at the outer extremity of which said keri cutter is carried, said boom structure being pivotally mounted on. said base to swing in horizontal and vertical directions with respect thereto about axes respectively lying in rectangularly related straight lines whichintersect to'locate said. kerf cutter in various positions with respect to a coal seam, amotor on said base and relative to which said supporting boom structure is swingable, and driving connections between said motor and said kerf cutter for driving the latter irrespective of its adjusted position including a universal joint connection arranged at the intersection of said straight lines so that the drive therethrough is maintained in all such positions of said boom structure.

2. A mining machine comprising, in combination, a portable base, a kerf cutter, a supporting boom structure at the outer extremity of which said kerf cutter is carried, said boom structure being pivotally mounted on said base to swing in horizontal and vertical directions with respect thereto about axes respectively lying in rectangularly related straight lines which intersect to locate said kerf cutter in various positions with respect to a coal seam, said lines lying in a common vertical plane, a motor on said base and relative to which said supporting boom structure is swingable, and driving connections between said motor and said kerf cutter for driving the latter irrespective of its adjusted position including a universal joint connection arranged at the intersection of said straight lines so that the drive therethrough is maintained in all such positions of said boom structure, said universal connection including cooperating universal joints coupled together and arranged in close adjacency to each other and to the point of intersection of said straight lines at opposite sides of said vertical plane.

3. A mining machine comprising, in combination, a portable base, a horizontal turntable on said base, a kerf cutter, a supporting boom structure at the outer extremity of which said kerf cutter is carried, said boom structure being pivotally mounted on said turntable to swing in a vertical direction relative thereto and to turn horizontally with said turntable, the turntable axis and the pivotal axis of said boom structure lying in a common vertical plane and said axes respectively lying in straight lines which intersect, said boom structure swingable about said axes to locate said kerf cutter in various positions with respect to a coal seam, a motor on said base and relative to which said turntable is turnable and said supporting boom structure is swingable, and driving connections between said motor and said kerf cutter for driving the latter irrespective of its adjusted position, including a universal joint connection arranged at the intersection of said straight lines with portions at opposite sides of said vertical plane so that the drive therethrough is maintained in all such positions of said boom structure.

4. A mining machine comprising, in combination, a portable base, a horizontal turntable on said base, a kerf cutter, a supporting boom structure at the outer extremity of which said kerf cutter is carried, said boom structure being pivotally mounted on said turntable to swing in a 6 vertical direction relative thereto and to turn horizontally with said turntable, the turntable axis and the pivotal axis of said boom structure lying in a common vertical plane and said axes respectively lying in straight lines which intersect, said boom structure being adjustable on said pivotal axes to locate said kerf cutter in various positions with respect to a coal seam, a motor mounted onsaid base and relative to which said turntable is rotatable and said boom structure is swingable, and driving connections between said motor and said kerf cutter for driving the latter irrespective of its adjusted position including. a universal joint connection .arranged at the intersection of said straightlines so thatthe drive therethrough is maintained in all such positions of said boom structure, said universal joint connection including a pair of cooperating universal joints coupled together and arranged in close adjacency to each other and to the point of intersection of said straight lines at opposite sides of said vertical plane.

5. A mining machine comprising, in combination, a portable base, a kerf cutter, a supporting boom structure at the outer extremity of which said kerf cutter is carried, said boom structure being pivotally mounted on said base to swing in planes at right angles with respect to each other about axes respectively lying in rectangularly related straight lines which intersect to locate said kerf cutter in various positions with respect to a coal seam, a motor on said base and relative to which said supporting boom structure is swingable, and driving connections between said motor and said kerf cutter for driving the latter irrespective of its adjusted position including a universal joint connection arranged at the intersection of said straight lines so that the drive therethrough is maintained in all such positions of said boom structure.

6. A mining machine comprising, in combination, a portable base, a kerf cutter, a supporting boom structure at the outer extremity of which said kerf cutter is carried, said boom structure being pivotally mounted on said base to swing in planes at right angles with respect to each other about axes respectively lying in rectangularly related straight lines which intersect to locate said kerf cutter in various positions with respect to a coal seam, a motor on said base and relative to which said supporting boom structure is swingable, and driving connections between said motor and said kerf cutter for driving the latter irrespective of its adjusted position including a universal joint connection arranged at the intersection of said straight lines so that the drive therethrough is maintained in all such positions of said boom structure, said axes lying in a common plane and said plane substantially bisecting said universal joint connection with substantially equal portions at opposite sides of said plane.

'7. A mining machine comprising, in combination, a portable base, a kerf cutter, a supporting boom structure at the outer extremity of which said kerf cutter is carried, said boom structure being pivotally mounted on said base to swing relative thereto about spaced pivots whose axes lie in a common straight line and about another pivot disposed in a line which extended intersects said common straight line, said boom structure being swingable about its pivotal axes to locate said kerf cutter in various positions with 75 respect to said coal seam, a motor on said base and relative to which said supporting boom structure is swingable, and driving connections between said motor and said kerf cutter for driving the latter irrespective of its adjusted position including a universal joint connection so arranged with respect to said first two pivots that it is intersected by said common straight line and said second straight line extended, so that the drive therethrough is maintained in all such positions of said boom structure. 10

EDWARD ISAIE DANSEREAU.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the 15 file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Number Name Date Pedersen Feb. 16, 1897 Drake Dec. 22, 1903 Davis Jan. 11, 1927 Davis Nov. 26, 1929 Van Kirk Apr. 15, 1930 Vodoz June 12, 1934 Yingling Apr. 16, 1935 Joy June 20, 1939 Surdy Oct. 22, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain July 17, 1874 

